Machine for extracting fiber from fibrous plants



(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' J. J. WEICHER'. MACHINE FOR EXTRAGTING FIBER FROM FIBROUS PLANTS.

No. 439,913. Patented Nov. '4, 1890.

R w m (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. J. WEIOHER. MACHINE FOR BXI'RAGTING FIBER FROM FIBROUS PLANTS.

-No.439,918. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

5o chainsd to prevent the with one or more,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. \VEIGIIER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR EXTRACTING FIBER FROM FIBROUS PLANTS.

SPECIFICATION To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN J. \VEICHER, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new, useful, and Improved Machine for. Extracting Fiber from Fibrous Plants, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side view, in longitudinal section, of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken upon the line a: as, Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrowthere shown. 'Fig. 4 is a plan view, in horizontal section, of the revoluble drum which acts upon the fiber; and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view in detail of the sprocket-chains and beveled cross-bars attached thereto.

Like letters of reference in the difierent figures indicate corresponding parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and durable machine whereby the fiber may be separated from the pulp of fibrous plants in an economical and satisfactory manner, all of which is hereinafter more particularly described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, a represents the frame of my improved machine, upon which is mounted in suitable bearings 17 b'c a series of transverse shafts b b 0'. Upon each of said shafts is mounted a pair of sprocketwheels b b 0 Trained over the wheels b b are sprocket-chains d (1, each link of the chain upon one side of the machine being connected but preferably two, cross bars e, (better shown in Fig. 5,) by means of rivets or otherwise, which bars are beveled or triangular in cross-section and arranged side by side, so that when viewed from the top,.as in Fig. 2, they form a table having a series of transverse grooves therein. Set-screws f f are provided in the bearing of the shaft 1) for the purpose of adjusting the tension of the chains d. One or more idle rolls or drums g, Fig. 1, is or are mounted in suitable bearings upon the frame and arranged beneath the upper portion of the endless latter from sagging. A secondary pair of endless chains h h are forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,913, dated November 4, 1890. Application filed May 24, 1 890. Serial No. 353,027. V (No model.)

trained over the wheels I)", outside of the. chains (1 (1, being made longer than the latter and carried around sprocketwheels 0 mounted' upon the shaft 0'. A series of beveled cross-bars j are arranged to connect the chains 72. at intervals, substantially as shown, and being upon the inside of said chain-links, whereas the bars e are upon the outside of the chains (1, said bars upon the respective chains being ad usted to mesh or interlock with each other like the teeth of cog-wheels,

as clearly indicated in Fig. 5, so that leaves interposed between the slats j e, as hereinafter stated, are grasped thereby and firmly held during the passage of the bars 7', by which they are clamped, from the wheels b around the wheels I), and back beneath said Wheels 12 A pulley 70, Fig. 2, connected with a source of power, serves to actuate the shaft b together with said sprocket-chains.

Atthe front of the machine is a casing l,

preferably made of sheet metal, in which is located a hollow revoluble drum m, mounted upon a hollow shaft m, connected by means of a pipe-hose n or otherwise with a source of water-supply, nected by means of a shaft 0' to the drum, serves to revolve the latter. The shaft m is provided with openings m therein for the admission of water to the drum m, which is also provided with a series 'of perforations 'm in its periphery. A series of blunt knives or metallic scrapers p is rigidly secured to the periphery of the drum m and arranged to pass during the rotation of the drum in close proximity to an opening q, formed in the rear of the case I for the admission of the plant leaves to said case. Upon the bottom of said op ning is provided a rounded lip q. The shell 1 is rounded beheath to conform to the shape of the drum m, and a spout Z is formed therein, which serves to carry off the pulp. A drum 1", Figs. 1 and 2, mounted loosely upon arms 0", pivoted to brackets r serves to direct the plant leaves toward the opening q and insure their entrance lengthwise therein, and serves also to mash the plants.

Having thus described the construction of my improved machine,l'.-will now describe its while a pulley 0, rigidly conihg revolved ,withhigh alm xwaer being continuously forced therein, as indicated.

7 The plant leaves 8 to be treated are laid uponthe platform mounted 3o.

formed by the slats e immediately above the shaft b and at a time when 7 one set of bars j are about to engage with the bars e, as clearly shown in Figs.'1 and 2.

The leaves s are firmly grasped between the two sets of bars and conveyed in the direc-. tion of the arrow, Fig. 1, beneath the drum r and into the opening q, where they are acted upon and abraded by-thescrapers of the revolving drum and thoroughly washed with the water therefrom, the pulp being carried olf with th fiber of the plant, being still clamped be-- tween the bars, as-stated,-is then withdrawn-'- from theopening q andcarriedon until it passesbeneath the-shaft b where the bars j i are disengaged'fromcontact with the-bars e, and the fiber being thereby released falls :to: theground.

hIiavi-ng thus described "my invention, 1'

e water through the spout l. The I amounted as described,

mg scrapers upon'its I slats, perforations in the=8he1LeEsaid drum, .me'an's"for'forcing'wateriwithin'the drum and through said perforations, and means for actuating said chains and drum, substantially as shown and described. 4

3.- Inafiber-extracting machine, two sets of endless chains, one longerand trained over the otherand both mounted upon wheels, counterpartintersecting slats attached to said chains, respectively, those upon the outermost chains being arranged at intervals from each other, in combination with a revoluble drum having scrapers upon'its periphery, a case for enclosing said drum, and an opening in said case opposite the upper level of said chains, whereby the plants graspedbysaid slatsmay %be introduced .insaid opening rand-the fiber :withdrawn after 'having the pulp separated therefrom by the .scrapers, substantially'as shown and described.

.4. The combination, with thechains .d h, of slats 1e57, means for a re vol uble drum *havperiphery in operative ns, and mcansfor actuaetuatingsaid chains, 7 proximity to saidchai 1. In a fiber-extracting machine, the combiating said drum and :for foreing water upon a series of-scrapers thereon, of two sets. of endlesssprocket-chains, one longerthan theother, upon sprocket-wheels :in operative proximity to said drum, the longer .set .of: chains being trained overrthe shorter, which latter h conjunction with thescrapers, and -.-release them :at tially asshown and described. 7 v .2. :Inaf-fibenextracting machine,:the:combi-.r natiomtwith two sets of. chains mounted :and; having:slats arrangedzthereon, as describemofi a hollow revoluble drnm havingscrapers upon .1

a given --poi-nt,.snbstan- 7k 1* wimessee his ay ofvMay, 1890- the fibro'us plants while being acted upon' by said .scrapersmubstantiallyasshown and described.

5. in a ='flber-extracting machine, the combination :of the :chains d v'h, mounted as .de-

scribed, one having slats e v-secured .upon the 011tSiderthereofthroughoutits length and other havi'ngslats arranged :at intervals thereon,

the jattached to theinsidean'd whereby said two sets of =slats1nay-engage with and mesh :1 into each .other, substantially as shown and described.

.. in testimony whereof ':I have signed this .85 specification, 'in-thepresenceof two subscrib- JOHN J. WEIGHER.

.Witne'sses:

1D. ZFL'ETCHER,

its pcrip'herytin operative proximity :to said i;

IDAV-I'D STEVENS. 

